Navigating Resolve: Zoom And Pan Switching

If you're looking to switch between zoom and pan in the Resolve viewer, there are a few methods you can use. One way is to use the Dynamic Zoom tool, which can be found in the Inspector menu. This tool allows you to add zooms and includes the option to adjust the green and red boxes to include pans. Another way is to use the Transform tool, which also allows you to set keyframes for your zooms and pans. Additionally, on a Mac, you can use the Shift+Cmd shortcut while swiping left or right to pan while zoomed in on a frame. To zoom with more control, you can use the cmd-plus and cmd-minus shortcuts.

Zooming with a mouse on a Mac

Another way to zoom on a Mac is by using keyboard shortcuts. The "Z" key instantly returns the view to Fit. You can also use "cmd-plus" and "cmd-minus" to zoom in and out, respectively. Additionally, "option-command-+/ "changes the zoom level.

If you're using a trackpad, you can also zoom in different ways. For example, you can use a two-finger drag or a three-finger drag to zoom in on the trackpad. However, some users find that this method can be too sensitive and easy to zoom accidentally, so they prefer to disable the two-finger drag and use a mouse instead.

Some users have also suggested using third-party software or drivers, such as SteerMouse, USB Overdrive, or BetterTouchTool, to customize their mouse or trackpad settings for zooming in Resolve.

Using the Dynamic Zoom tool

The Dynamic Zoom tool in DaVinci Resolve 14 can be used to add automated zoom to images or videos. This can be particularly useful for wedding videographers or photographers who want to add animated movement to stills.

To use the Dynamic Zoom tool, first import your media (a still or a video clip) and place it on the timeline. Select your media, then open the inspector panel. In the fourth section down, you’ll find the dynamic zoom tool. Simply click the switch to turn it on. If you revert to your timeline area and click play, you can see that your clip is slightly zoomed in, and it will zoom out to its original framing at the end of playback. The degree of zoom doesn't change, no matter the duration of your clip. However, the speed of the zoom will change: the shorter the clip, the faster the zoom; the longer the clip, the slower the zoom.

In the dynamic zoom panel, you can customise the zoom. You can change the direction of the zoom with the swap button, and adjust the movement of the zoom with the ease controls. You can also adjust the position of the dynamic zoom. To do this, open the Dynamic Zoom overlay in the lower left corner under the viewer. You will see two overlays: a green rectangle that represents the starting point and a red rectangle that represents the endpoint. Here, you can change the position of the dynamic zoom.

Zooming with a trackpad on a Mac

To zoom with a trackpad on a Mac, you can try using a two-finger gesture. Place two fingers on the trackpad and move them upwards to zoom in, and downwards to zoom out. To control the speed of your zoom, be gentle with your movements, as more energetic scrolling can result in the window continuing to zoom even after you've stopped moving your fingers.

You can also use keyboard shortcuts to zoom. Pressing "cmd" and "+" will zoom in, while "cmd" and "-" will zoom out. This method is more controllable and helps avoid accidental zooming.

Additionally, you can enable three-finger dragging on your Mac by going to "System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse & Trackpad > Trackpad Options > Enable Dragging > Scroll to Three Finger Drag". With this setting enabled, you can then use a two-finger drag to pan in Resolve.

While these methods can help you zoom and pan with a trackpad on a Mac, the functionality can be unpredictable, and you may experience stuttering or other issues. Some users have suggested using an external mouse for more consistent results.

Panning with a mouse on a Mac

If you are using a Mac mouse, you can pan while zoomed in on a frame by using Shift+Cmd while swiping left or right. Ensure your cursor is on the zoomed image.

If you are using a trackpad, you can enable three-finger drag in your Mac's "Accessibility" settings. Once enabled, you can use a two-finger drag to pan in Resolve. You can also use the BetterTouchTool to make middle-button drags possible with a trackpad.

If you are using a Magic Mouse, you can use the Cmd + scroll to move a zoomed viewer up and down, and Cmd + Shift + scroll to move left and right.

Additionally, you can use the Dynamic Zoom tool in Resolve to automate the zoom function. This can be activated in the inspector panel.

Panning with a trackpad on a Mac

One user has suggested a workaround for this issue. They recommend downloading an app such as 'middleclick', which allows you to set 'fn + click' as the middle mouse button. This enables you to pan around an image by holding the function key while clicking and dragging.

Another user has suggested a different approach:

> “On Mac mouse (and I assume trackpad), you can pan while zoomed in on a frame by using shift+cmd while swiping left or right. Make sure your cursor is on the zoomed image."

Additionally, one user has pointed out that Apple has hidden the three-finger drag feature in the "accessibility" options on Mac. Once enabled, you can use a two-finger drag to pan in Resolve.

It is worth noting that some users have suggested using a mouse as a more reliable alternative to the trackpad when working with Resolve.

Frequently asked questions